Poems for Alex

The Snow Man

One must have a mind of winter 

To regard the frost and the boughs 

Of the pine-trees crusted with snow;

And have been cold a long time 

To behold the junipers shagged with ice, 

The spruces rough in the distant glitter

Of the January sun; and not to think 

Of any misery in the sound of the wind, 

In the sound of a few leaves,

Which is the sound of the land 

Full of the same wind 

That is blowing in the same bare place

For the listener, who listens in the snow, 

And, nothing himself, beholds 

Nothing that is not there and the nothing that is.

 – Wallace Stevens

As I scavenge for poems, my paths cross with this one and my mind instantly thinks of my good friend, Alex Supertramp. He crossed my mind because he would tell me how much he wanted to deal with the cold and rough Alaskan wild and this poem pretty much describes that environment in such a serene way with the connection a person need to make to one's self to survive and enjoy it all.

Stevens says, "One must have a mind of winter... and have been cold a long time". This reminded me of Alex because I noticed he tends to be a little "cold". He never really gets too attached to the people he is around and ends up leaving not too long after meeting them. That's what he did with me... Right when I was getting fond of that kid.

Steven also says, "...and not think of any misery in the sound of the wind" which can also relate to Alex. He was a pretty mellow guy; he never really seemed worried about anything, like he had everything under control. He just seemed to not have any worries.

Lastly, Stevens says, "...For the listener, who listens in the snow, and, nothing himself, beholds, nothing that is not there and the nothing that is". This means to me that a person must be humble to enjoy the simple things in life. Alex was always humble. He worked hard but did not brag about it when people complimented him about it. I Believe he will do well in Alaska.

REBEL

Rebel is Great

Rebel is fun

I want to be a rebel

Image of a Man

Shadow of a God

Rebel fascist

fascist fascist

Rebel questions

not follow

Iron fist

Do we need that

Rebel Rebel

Rebel is Great.

 – Anon

This was another poem I found which reminded me of Alex. This is about being a rebel. Most people may not call Alex a rebel but I think he is; he goes by his own rules, sets his own path, and ignore all authorities. This poem reminds me of him because Alex is a great kid ("Rebel is Great"), he knows how to have fun ("Rebel is fun"), He is somewhat a perfectionist the way he hates flaws in others and in himself ("Shadow of a God"), and he sets his own path ("Rebel questions not follow")

Alex was a rebel that found his was in the Alaskan wild where he met his inner self... May he rest peacefully...